Foursome Sign Major Distribution Deal

Jan 16, 2007

Genius Products, LLC, The Weinstein Company LLC, and Entertainment Rights Plc and Classic Media Holdings, Inc., entered into long-term agreements for the distribution, co-production, and co-financing of multiple home video and video game productions for the family, children, and teen markets. ER recently announced an agreement to acquire U.S.-based Classic Media, which is still subject to, among other things, ER shareholders' approval. Genius Products will be the exclusive North American distributor of home video and certain digital media distribution rights in Classic's and ER's libraries including Lassie; Fat Albert; Postman Pat; Rupert Bear; holiday specials Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, and Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town; and VeggieTales. Genius also will have North American home video and digital distribution rights in new productions including The Lone Ranger, Gumby, and She Ra. In addition, Genius will have North American distribution rights for a slate of up to 12 new video games to be produced and financed by Genius based on titles in the ER and Filmation catalogs. ER, Classic, and TWC will co-produce and co-finance new animated children's productions including Gumby, Kung Fu Magoo, Lone Ranger, Rupert Bear, Postman Pat, and She-Ra. North American home video and digital distribution of co-productions will be handled by Genius Products, and ER will distribute internationally. The productions will be managed by Eric Robinson, vice president of production and development, TWC.